A. What is Geology?
B. What are fossils?
C. How many and how are which periods of geological formation of the earth called?
Text for reading
379. The normal position of the earthy or rocky layers from aqueous deposits is horizontal. By seeing these immense plains, which sometimes extend to be lost from sight, and which perfectly horizontal and compacted as if they had leveled with a roller, or those deep valleys that are as flat as the surface of a lake, one can be certain that at some time in the remote past such places were for a long time covered by placid waters, which upon withdrawing, left dry the soils they had deposited during their stay.
380. When the waters receded, this soil became covered with vegetation. When instead of the slimy, limy, clayish or marly soils - so appropriate for assimilating the nutritive principles - the waters deposited nothing but silicate sand, which would not agglomerate, we end up with sandy, arid plains that constitute the moors(1) and deserts. The sediments left behind by partial floods and those that form the alluvial deposits at the mouths of the rivers can give a small idea.
381. While the horizontal is the most widespread and usually assume that of aqueous formations, one often sees in the mountainous countries rather large extensions of hard rock established on an inclined position and sometimes vertically. Now, according to the laws of equilibrium of liquids and of gravity, aqueous deposits cannot be formed except on horizontal planes, and considering the fact that those that occur on inclined planes are swept by currents and by their own weight to the lowlands, it becomes evident that such deposits were lifted up by some kind of force after they had solidified and turned into stones.
382. From these considerations we can conclude with certainty that all rocky layers coming from aqueous deposits, lying on a flat surface, were formed for centuries by still water, and that every time they find themselves in inclined position is because the soil was shaken and displaced afterward by generalized or partial upheavals of varying degrees.
383. A characteristic fact of the highest importance because of the irrefutable evidence it supplies consists in fossil remains of animals and plants that are found in huge quantities within the different strata. And since these remains are found even in the harshest stones, one must conclude that the existence of such beings is prior to the formation of such rocks. Now if one considers the prodigious number of centuries that were required in order to harden them and bring them to the state they have been in since immemorial, one must inevitably come to the conclusion that the appearance of organic beings on earth is lost in the night of time, and that, consequently before the date implied in the book of Genesis.
384. Footprints have even been discovered in some rocks and by the shape of the foot, toes and nails, one can recognize the species of animal they came from. Understandably, animal fossils are comprised of only solid and resistant parts, i.e. the bones, scales and horns. Sometimes they are complete skeletons; however, most frequently, they are only detached parts, but whose origin nevertheless is easily recognized.
385. Land of the various formations is characterized by the very nature of the fossils they contain. The oldest ones contain animal or plant that disappeared entirely from the planet's surface species. Also some newer species have disappeared, but similar ones remain that differ only by the size and a few nuances of shape. And finally, there are others, whose last representatives yet seen, which will evidently tend to disappear in the not-so-distant-future, such as the elephants, rhinos, hippos, etc. Hence, as the stratifications approach our era, the animal and plant species also approach those that exist today.
386. The upheavals and the cataclysms that have occurred on Earth since its origin have changed the conditions for its ability to sustain life and have caused entire generations of living beings to disappear.
387. The study of geological strata attests to successive formations that changed the aspect of the globe, and it divides its history into several eras. These eras constitute the so-called geological periods, whose knowledge is essential to the determination of Genesis. There are six main periods designated by the names of the primary, transition, secondary, tertiary, diluvial and post-diluvial or present. The terrains formed during the time of each period are also called primitive, transition, secondary, etc. Thus it is said that such a stratum or rock, or such and such fossil are to be found in the terrain of such and such period.
388. The number of these periods is, however, not absolute, it depends on the classification systems. The six main, above, only include those who are marked by a remarkable and general change in the state of the planet; but the observation proves that many successive formations operated as each lasted.
389. The primitive state of the globe - The flattening of the poles and other conclusive facts are sure evidence that the state of the Earth, in its origin, must have been liquid or softened state. Matter liquefied by fire or soaked by water could have caused such a state.
390. It is proverbially stated: there is no smoke without a fire. This proposition, strictly true, is an application of the principle: there is no effect without cause. For the same reason, it may be said: there is no fire without a source. Now by the facts that happened before us, is not just the smoke that is produced on Earth, but very real fire, which must have a source. This fire coming from within the planet and not from above, the source must be within; the fire being ongoing, the source must also be.
391. Heat, which increases progressive as one penetrates into the earth and that at a certain depth, reaches a very high temperature; the thermal sources that are hotter the deeper they originate; the fires and masses of molten and flaming matter that escape volcanoes as if by huge blowers, or through cracks produced by earthquakes leave no doubt about the existence of an inner fire.
392. Experience shows that the temperature rises one degree Celsius for every 30 meters of depth, from which it follows that at a depth of 300 meters, the increase is 10 degrees; at 3,000 meters, 100 degrees (temperature of boiling water); at 30,000 meters, 1,000 degrees; 100,000 meters, more than 3,300 degrees, the temperature at which no known matter can resist melting. From there down to the center there is still a distance of over 1,400 leagues (4200 miles) for a diameter of 2,800 leagues, which would be filled molten matter.
393. Although only conjecture - judging the cause by its effect - this has all the characteristics of probability and one way reach the conclusion that the Earth is still an incandescent mass covered by a solid crust 25 leagues (75 miles) thick, which is only the 120th part of its diameter. Proportionally, would be much less than the thickness of the thinnest orange peel.
394. Moreover, the thickness of earth's crust is highly variable because there are places - particularly in volcanic areas - where the heat and flexibility of the ground indicate that it is quite thin. The high temperature of the thermal waters is also an indication of the proximity of the central fire.
395. Thus, it becomes evident that the primitive state of fluidity or softness of the earth was caused by the action of heat and not water. In its origin, the earth was then an incandescent mass. By virtue of irradiation of heat, it underwent what happens to all molten matter: little by little it has cooled off, and this cooling process naturally began at the surface which then hardened while the interior remained fluidic. One may thus compare the earth to a lump of coal that comes out of the furnace all red, and whose surface extinguishes and cools off upon contact with air. However, if it is broken, the inside will still be ablaze.
396. As a result of cooling off and mixing, the elements formed new combinations. The air, considerably expanded, extended to an immense distance; all the water forcibly transformed into steam, was mixed in with air. All the matter susceptible to volatilization, such as metals, sulfur, carbon, were in a gaseous state. The state of the atmosphere was nothing compared to what it is today. The density of all these vapors gave it an opacity that no ray of sunshine could pass through. If at this time a living being could exist on the planet's surface would be lit only by sinister glow of the furnace beneath its feet and the atmosphere ablaze, and it would have never suspected the existence of the sun.
(1) A broad area of open land, often high but poorly drained, with patches of heath and peat bogs, (The American Heritage College Dictionary, 1979). – Tr.
Answers to Proposed Questions
A. What is Geology?
Earth itself retains the evident traces of its formation. The phases can be tracked with mathematical precision in the different formations that make up its framework. Taken together, these studies form the science of Geology, born in the nineteenth century and which has cast light on the highly controversial question of the origin of the earth and the living beings that inhabit it. Geology is therefore a whole science of observation; it draws conclusions only from what it sees; on questionable points, it affirms nothing; it forgoes disputable opinions, waiting for more complete observations. (Genesis, Ch. VII, item 1)
B. What are fossils?
Fossil, from the fossilia Latin fossilis, derived from fossa, fosse, and the verb fodere, to dig, to excavate the earth). In geology, this word refers to the bodies or remains of organic bodies coming from being that lived before historical times. By extension, it also refers to the minerals substances with traces of the presence of organisms, such as those that are imprinted by plants or animals. (Genesis, Ch. VII, item 7, and note Kardec.)
C. How many and how are which periods of geological formation of the earth called?
There are six main periods designated by the names of the primary, transition, secondary, tertiary, diluvial and post-diluvial or present. The terrains formed during the time of each period are also called primitive, transition, secondary, etc. Thus it is said that such a stratum or rock, or such and such fossil are to be found in the terrain of such and such period.
The number of these periods is, however, not absolute, it depends on the classification systems. The six main, above, only include those who are marked by a remarkable and general change in the state of the planet; but the observation proves that many successive formations operated as each lasted. (Genesis, Ch. VII, items 12 to 14)
